Toon Talk: Enchanted DVD - Mar 18, 2008

Toon Talk: Enchanted DVD
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(c) Disney

You�ll want to head straight to the �Fantasy Comes to Life� section, where the movie�s three Oscar nominated song sequences are highlighted. �Happy Working Song� shows how all the real rats, pigeons and various CGI critters were choreographed into the memorable number, while �That�s How You Know� includes rehearsal footage of how all the dancers, gymnasts and what-nots were corralled together for the Central Park showstopper. �A Blast at the Ball� focuses on the special effects that were used to bring the fairy tale climax to life, including shots of �damsel in distress� Patrick Dempsey dangling from what appears to be a giant wad of day-glo green Flubber.

The final bonus is a big tease for the Enchanted Blu-ray, which features all of the above and something more: �The D-Files�. As we all know by now, Enchanted is loaded with a host of hidden (and not so hidden) references to classic Disney films (see sidebar below). The set top activity rewards players who spot them with a short featurette showing the original Disney reference; high scoring players are then treated to three extra videos: �Making Ever Ever After�, �So Close� and �True Love�s Kiss�.

Trivial Pursuits:
ENCHANTED EDITION
 
(Originally posted on Kirby�s blog at MovieDearest.blogspot.com.)

Enchanted was more then just inspired by the animated fairy tales that came before it ... it is practically a visual encyclopedia of iconic imagery from the studio's catalog of classics. Here are some of the best (slightly spoilerish) examples:

  • The film opens with a storybook, as several Disney masterpieces have.
  • The troll that threatens Giselle is wearing remnants of past Disney princess dresses as a loincloth; he also wears Ariel's shells as earrings.
  • The rose bell jar from Beauty and the Beast can be seen in Giselle's cottage.
  • Giselle's journey through the magic wishing well is similar to Alice's journey to Wonderland.
  • Upon arriving in New York, Giselle mistakes a little person for Grumpy.
  • The last name of Patrick Dempsey's character is Philip, as in Prince Phillip from Sleeping Beauty; the last name of Idina Menzel's character is Tremaine, as in Lady Tremaine from Cinderella.
  • During "Happy Working Song" (a direct descendant of "Whistle While You Work" from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs), Giselle is seen reflected in soap bubbles, � la Cinderella.
  • The bus driver's hair is shaped like Mickey Mouse ears.
  • The name of Robert's law firm -- Churchill, Harline & Smith -- is an homage to Snow White songwriters Frank Churchill, Leigh Harline, and Paul J. Smith.
  • The couple seeking divorce is named Banks, as in the Banks family from Mary Poppins.
  • Jodi Benson, who voiced Ariel in The Little Mermaid, plays Robert�s secretary; during her scene in the law offices, "Part of Your World" can be heard playing on the Muzak system.
  • When Nathaniel offers Giselle a poisoned caramel apple, it bears the same skull-shaped design as the Queen's apple in Snow White.
  • The fellow in the yellow jacket during the "old folks" section of "That's How You Know" is Harvey Evans, who played one of the dancing chimney sweeps in Mary Poppins.
  • Later during the same musical number, a children's theater is seen performing Rapunzel, soon (finally) to be a major motion picture from Disney Feature Animation.
  • The hotel that Edward stays out is called the Grand Duke, � la Cinderella.
  • During the hotel room scene, a soap opera is seen on the television; Paige O'Hara, who voiced Belle in Beauty and the Beast, plays the actress, and the Beauty theme song can be heard as the underscore; scenes from Dumbo and Fun and Fancy Free can also be heard on the TV.
  • The Italian restaurant is named "Belle Notte", after the song from Lady and the Tramp; plus, James Marsden (Prince Edward) singing "That's Amore" can be heard at the start of this sequence.
  • The TV newscaster, Mary Ilene Caselotti, is named after the original voices of Princesses Aurora (Mary Costa), Cinderella (Ilene Woods) and Snow White (Adriana Caselotti).
  • The harried mother who tells Edward that he is "too late" is played by Judy Kuhn, the singing voice of Pocahontas.
  • The choreography and cinematography during "So Close" is reminiscent of the ballroom scene in Beauty and the Beast; Robert's costume in this scene resembles the Beast's as well.
  • At different points in the movie, Queen Narissa transforms into an old crone, just like the Queen in Snow White, and a giant dragon, just like Maleficent in Sleeping Beauty.
  • When Prince Edward puts the slipper on Nancy, it is a perfect fit, again � la Cinderella.
  • The Lion King's Pumbaa makes a cameo appearance during the final montage, standing in line waiting for Pip's autograph.
  • And finally: it all ends with a "happily ever after", courtesy of narrator (and Disney Legend) Julie Andrews.